Small Animal Imaging Facility

The Small Animal Imaging Facility located in the ABSL-3 facility of the vivarium in
the Saint Louis University Doisy Research Center offers sophisticated equipment for
the optical imaging of small animals.

In vivo imaging has become a standard research tool in medical science. Non-invasive
in vivo imaging techniques allow researchers to obtain information not available by
other methods.

Sequential imaging of the same animal yields valuable insight into the progression
of physiological or pathological processes and allows for the reduction in the number
of experimental animals needed.

Small Animal Imaging Equipment at SLU

The IVIS® Spectrum in vivo imaging system is capable of detecting both luminescent
and fluorescent light sources ranging from blue to near-infrared wavelengths using
10 excitation and 18 emission filters. It offers both a planar view (where the light
source is registered on the animal’s surface) and a single-view 3-D reconstruction
of both fluorescent and luminescent reporters. When used with mice, the latter can
be viewed in anatomical context using a digital rendering of internal organs.

Multiple animals (five mice or two rats) can be imaged simultaneously. The intensity
of light emission can be quantified in terms of photons/s/cm2/sr, which is an absolute
measurement of tissue radiance independent of all camera settings, and can be compared
between separate subjects or experiments.

The IVIS Spectrum is connected to the XGI-8 Anesthesia System, which uses isoflurane
as an anesthetic agent and is mild enough for repeated daily use in rodents.

Anesthesia gas is supplied to the animals in the imaging chamber through a five-place
manifold. Alternatively, the XIC-3 isolation chamber is used to image animals infected
with Risk Group 3 (RG3) agents or agents that cause disease in laboratory animals.
In both cases, anesthesia gas is scavenged from the chambers and is absorbed into
activated charcoal.

Uses for IVIS Spectrum

Researchers who utilize the IVIS Spectrum work in almost all fields of biomedical
research. Among other areas, the imaging platform can be used in:

Cancer Research: Growth, localization and metastasis of tagged cancer cells can be
imaged. Response to treatment is easily followed longitudinally in the same animal
throughout the study.

Infectious Diseases: The spread of pathogens expressing fluorescent or luminescent
reporters can be monitored.

Immunology: The activation and migration of various immune cells can be observed.

Adoptive Transfer Models: Engraftment of tagged cells can be monitored.

Numerous animal models are commercially available from Caliper and The Jackson Laboratory.